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Dear Friend,
Thank you for reading my newsletter! My team and I continue to work for you and our community. It was a very eventful week and I’m excited to tell you about what we accomplished. Here are some highlights:
RAISING SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS: September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide and mental health are issues affecting many people nationwide, especially as we spend time socially distanced. Sadly, suicide is also a significant problem for veterans, who often return home from war very different than how they left. The invisible wounds of war often go unseen and untreated, leading many to take their own lives.
This Suicide Prevention Month, it’s critical we have open dialogue, listen and help those in need to prevent suicide across the country, especially within our veteran communities. I encourage you to take some time to reach out to someone you care about, start a conversation and break the stigma of mental illness. Click here to learn more about what you can do to help others and prevent suicide.
PPP SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT: As you know, millions of small businesses nationwide have felt the impact of coronavirus, struggling immensely with COVID restrictions, cut revenues and fewer employees. Small businesses make up 95% of total businesses in our community and are essential to our local economy and way of life. Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Program, so we can support our small businesses during this difficult time and the PPP has done exactly that by helping nearly 80% of these businesses with loans, saving more than 83,000 jobs in our area.
This week, Racing’s North Turn Restaurant and Museum owners Rhonda and Walter Glasnak reached out to me to tell their story of how the PPP has helped their business. Racing’s North Turn is a treasure in our community, sitting on the very spot where NASCAR’s history began in 1936. For years, race cars sped by the iconic restaurant as adoring fans watched and cheered. Today, Racing’s North Turn is a relic and constant reminder of our area’s rich history and love of NASCAR.
Thanks to the PPP, Racing’s North Turn was able to stay in business and keep over 90 employees on payroll. Daytona Beach would not be the same without Racing’s North Turn and I’m glad to see the PPP help small businesses in our area through this difficult time.
To share your success story, please fill out the form on my website here. Not only
will I be highlighting these stories on my social media pages and in my newsletters
but I also plan to visit these local businesses soon!
DESANTIS EXTENDS FLORIDA’S EVICTION MORATORIUM: Coronavirus has made it difficult for many Floridians to pay their bills, including bills for rent and mortgages. To assist Floridians in need, Gov. Ron DeSantis has extended the temporary suspension of foreclosures and evictions until October 1. Click here to learn more.
VIRTUAL SERVICE ACADEMY DAY: Each year, I have the great honor of nominating young men and women from our district for selection to four service academies: the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Military Academy. This year, we’ve shifted our typical in-person Academy Day to a Virtual Academy Day, which has information on our service academies and the nomination process.
The deadline to apply for a service academy is September 30, so if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about a future in military service, click here or the photo below for more information.
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STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL: On Monday, students from Volusia and St. Johns counties celebrated their first day of school. This school year looks a lot different as our schools take the necessary precautions to keep our students, teachers and communities safe. Whether students go back to school in-person or online, we’re all excited for a new school year and looking forward to our students continuing to grow and learn. Wishing all of our students, parents and teachers a successful school year!
Deltona High School’s Blue Brigade welcoming students back to school
HELPING YOU NAVIGATE THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY: Are you struggling to navigate federal bureaucracy? My office can help with the VA, a passport, Social Security, the IRS or any other federal agency. Click here for more information about how we can assist you or call one of my three district offices below:
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY: This Labor Day Weekend, my office will be closed September 4-7 to observe the Labor Day holiday but will be open and ready to assist you with anything you may need starting Tuesday, September 8.
Please follow my daily work on social media by liking my Facebook page and following me on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. As always, feel free to reach out to my offices in Florida or Washington, D.C. if my team or I can ever be of service.
In Service,
Michael Waltz |